If all goes well, Oktoberfest enthusiasts could be clinking beer steins, doing the chicken dance and eating sauerkraut along the banks of Bayou St. John in fall 2013. Deutsches Haus, the German heritage society which lost its South Galvez Street headquarters to the University Medical Center wrecking ball this spring, has a deal with the state to buy a 4 1/2 acre parcel of land at 1700 Moss St. and is working on plans for a new clubhouse and beer garden.

"We're drawing up plans for the new building," Deutsches Haus second vice-president Joe Stephany said. "It's a gorgeous location. We're going to fit right into the neighborhood, almost better than where we originally were."

Much still needs to happen to bring the plan to reality. The group's settlement with the state over the building it occupied since 1928 is not enough to cover the cost of acquiring the new property and building a new headquarters, so it will need to embark on a fundraising effort. And until members decide how much they can spend on the new building, drawings are more of a visioning exercise than actual construction plans. And building on the site will require a zoning change and conditional use permit.

"We are working on conceptual drawings now," said Charlie Ward, a partner in Rozas Ward Architects. "We're preparing a conditional use package to give to the city planning commission for approval."

Ward said the package will probably be submitted in the next week or so in hopes of getting on the City Planning Commission's docket in the spring. City Council will ultimately need to act on the planning commission's recommendation.

As part of the planning process, Deutsches Haus will need to make formal presentations to the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association, the Desaix Area Neighborhood Association and other local groups to get their assent on plans.

"If everything goes well in the spring, I would imagine we could start construction this summer, assuming their fundraising is all completed. We could probably be open the summer of 2013 at the latest," Ward said. "Right now they're dreaming, and we're trying to build the dream for them."

Stephany said the site will function as a private social club and special event space, and won't compete with bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.

Seth Levine, president of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association, said Deutsches Haus members met informally with his group earlier in the year, and the neighborhood is looking forward to hearing about their plans when they come back with actual drawings. The Desaix Area Neighborhood Association couldn't be reached for comment.

District A City Councilwoman Susan Guidry anticipates that the application process will soon begin. "Deutsches Haus is a New Orleans tradition that we know and love. An application for their new home at 1700 Moss Street in District A has not yet been filed with the City Planning Commission. If appropriate, the CPC will make recommendations to the City Council on possible changes in zoning and land use provisions," she said in an e-mail.

Michael DiResto, a spokesman for the Division of Administration, said that Deutsches Haus' settlement with the state gives the group a piece of property valued at $1.7 million and about $1.5 million in additional proceeds that could be used to build a new clubhouse.

Under the National Historic Preservation Act, the state was required to compensate the group for its demolished building and give it money to assist the group in relocating to another suitable location within the Mid-city National Register Historic District. The 200 Galvez Street building was appraised for $517,100, and the state agreed to provide $2.7 million in additional compensation for a total of $3.2 million. After deducting the $1.7 million state property, which had once been a Third District police station and a confederate veterans home, that leaves the group with $1,478,670.90 to outfit the group's temporary headquarters in Metairie and build a new one in New Orleans.

The transfer of the 1700 Moss St. property was approved by the Legislature in the spring on a bill sponsored by district Rep. Neil Abramson. Stephany said the ultimate sale is contingent upon whether the group gets the necessary zoning approvals to build its new headquarters on the property.

Designing a building that's appropriate for the site is challenging, Ward said, because the property is sandwiched in between the bayou, the 7-story Esplanade at City Park apartment building and St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, with the Fair Grounds Race Course behind it. Plans call for a building that's reminiscent of old Germany, with wood floors and beams and an interior that looks a lot like the original location. There will be space for the beer garden and weddings outside, and there will be plenty of parking on site so it won't bother the neighborhood. Ward said the group plans to retain as many of the trees as possible that are on the site.

"There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the views of City Park and the museum. There will be a deck and opportunities to look across the bayou," Ward said.

Stephany described the new building as a half-timber style guest house. He said the group is excited about its new location, because it will also present opportunities for members to do some canoeing, rent bicycles, or hold Volkssport walking events along the bayou or in the park.

He's confident that fundraising will go well, because membership is stronger than ever. The group has about 625 members, up from 175 to 200 a decade ago, and about 300 members when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

The group is hoping for an additional boost in membership from Oktoberfest, which will be held Oct. 14 to 16 and Oct. 21 to 23 at Rivertown in Kenner. This year's event will be "the same oompah-pah, but a different place," Stephany said.

For now, Stephany said the group has settled in well to its temporary headquarters on Ridgewood Drive in Metairie. Members re-installed the bar from South Galvez Street to make it feel more like home, and they've held plays, concerts, dances and movie nights there over the past few months.

"We're starting to build a following out here in Metairie. There are going to be some tears leaving the temporary site," Stephany said.

Rebecca Mowbray can be reached at rmowbray@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3417.